Clamp for metal bedsteads.



No. 693,562. Patented Feb. I8, |902.

w. A. Momsnn & F. L. Bm/ANT. CLAMP FDR METAL BEDSTEADS.

(Application led June 24, 1901.1

(No Model.)

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TTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLARD A. MORRISON AND FRED L. BRYANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLAIVlP FOR METAL BEDSTADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,562, dated February 18, 1902.

Application led June 24,1901.

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLARD A. MORRI- SON and FRED L. BRYANT, citizens ot' the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Clamps for Metal Bedsteads, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being` had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to a metal bedstead, our object being to provide improved means for securing the side rails of the bedstead to the end pieces.

Metal bedsteads as commonly constructed comprise a pair of end pieces each having two uprights or posts suitably connected together, the end pieces being connected by means of a pair of side rails, the ends of which are adapted to be secured to the uprights or posts of the end pieces. In one form of bedstead as commonly employed heretofore a casting has been provided upon each end of the side rail, said castings each being provided with a bore through which the upright or post of the end piece is adapted to pass, the casting being secured at the desired height upon the post by means of a set-screw. This construction is objectionable, since the setscrew tends to mutilate the post and does not afford an ecientgrippingsurface,and, moreover, when it is desired to remove the side rail it is necessary to slip the casting oit the end of the post, thus necessitatingthe removal of the casters. The removal of the side rails in this form of bed-plate is thus diflicult and inconvenient. In another form of metal bedstead which has been extensively used heretofore a chilled casting has been molded about the post of the end piece, which casting is adapted to receive and support the end of the side rail, usually by the provision of a slot in the casting adapted. to receive a tongue carried upon a casting secured to the end of the side rail. This construction is objectionable, due to the fact that the casting which is molded to the post is chilled and is therefore very difficult to tool. Any inaccuracy in the formation of the casting or of the slot therein throws the bedstead out of alinement and destroys the rigidity of the structure, which ri- Serial No. 65,790. (No model.)

gidity is a desirable feature in a metal bedstead.

It is of prime importance in the construction of a metal bedstead that the side rail should be rigidly secured to the upright or post, so that no lost motion is permitted between the side rail and the posts. Otherwise `the strain imposed upon the structure will cause the parts to Wabble.

In accordance with the present invention We provide a clamp adapted to engage the uprights or posts, and this clamp is provided with two jaws or members which are hingedly connected together, or at least connected together in some loose manner, at lthe outer edge, while the inner end of one of the jaws is ixedly and rigidly secured to the side rail. A clamping device, as a screw, is associated with the inner end of the other jaw, whereby the jaws may be pressed together to thus se curely clamp the side rail to the post or upright. By thus mounting one of the jaws tixedly and rigidly upon the side rail any lost motion between the side rail and the clamp is prevented, and by hinging the two jaws together at the outer edge and providing a clamping device at the inner-end of the movable jaw the two jaws are rigidly secu red to* gether and to the upright or post, thus absolutely preventing any lost motion and producing a bedstead or frame possessing absolute rigidity and doing away entirely with any tendency of the bed to Wabble.

We are aware that it has been proposed heretofore to provide a clamp consisting of two jaws adapted to be secured together and to the side rails by means of a single bolt, and we disclaim such a structure.

We have illust-rated our invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an end View of the end piece, showing the side rails in position. Fig. 2 is a side view of the bedstead. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the end ofthe side rail and a portion of the post. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line t 4E, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional View on line 5 5, Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Like letters refer to like parts iu the several figures.

The end piece comprises a pair of uprights or posts a a', joined together in any suitable manner-as, for instance, by the cross-pieces a2 d3 a4 and the uprights a5 a5. The usual casters b b are illustrated as mounted upon the lower ends of the posts. The side rail b' carries upon the ends the clamps b2 h2. Each of the clamps comprises two members or jaws c c', one of the jaws c being secured to the end of the side rail, while the other jaw c' is movable and is hinged to the stationary jaw c. The lugs c2 c2 are carried upon the jaws c c and are provided with bores which rest in alinement and which receive a piu c3. The lugs and pin thus constitute a hinge about which the movable jaw c' may be swung. The jaw c carries upon the edge opposite the hinge a bifurcated tongue or lip c4. I

Secured to the side rail b is la bracket cl, to which is pivoted the end of a screw CZ', carrying upon the end a thumb-piece c6 and a washer c5. The pivoted screw is adaptedY to be swung into position so that the thumbpiece c6 may force the washer c5 against the lip c"l to thus compress the post a between the two jaws ofthe clamp, and thus secure the side rail to the post. When it is desired to I adjust the height of the side rail, the thumbpiece c may be turned to release the movable jaw, and the clamp may thus be moved to the proper position upon the post, and the thumb-piece may then be turned to clamp the side rail in the new position.

In some instances we iind it desirable to provide upon the post a locater to insure the placing of the clamp at a definite position. This locater may take the form of an engaging projection and recess, the projection being carried upon the post and the recess upon the clamp, or Vice versa. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a pinfpasses through the opposite walls of the post ct, one end projecting beyond the exterior of the post `and adapted to enter a recess or channel formed in the face of the stationary jaw of the clamp. The engagement of the pin and recess insures the placing of the side rail at a definite and predetermined height. For most bedsteads used for domestic purposes it is desirable to employ the locater, since the side rails should then be mounted at a definite height. For hospitals and other places where it may be desired to adjust the height of the side rail, the 1ocater may be omitted, or, if desired, a plurality of locators may be employed to accommodate the clamp at different heights.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the movable jaw is shown as constructed so that the same lnay be detached from the stationary jaw. The lugs c2 c2 of the jaw c are cutaway upon one side to leave the slots e, and when the movable jaw is swung upon its pivot the lugs may be moved out of engagement with the pin c3 and the movable jaw thus detached from the stationary jaw. The making of the movable jaw detachable facilitates manufacture and lessens'the cost 0f production.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modification of the pivotal mounting of the screw d is shown. In this instance an opening c is provided through the wall of the side rail, and a recess is provided in the face of the stationary jaw c of the clamp. The pivoted end of the screw d' carries a pin e', which is adapted to iit against the face of the side rail. In this manner the screw d' is pivotally mounted so that the same may be rocked back and forth as desired.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a bedstead, the combination with an upright or post, of a side rail, a clamp adapted to engage said upright or post and comprising two jaws or members hingedly connected together at the outer edges, the inner end -of one of said members being rigidly secured to the side rail, and a clamping device for forcing inward theinner end of the other jaw or member, whereby the side rail is securely clamped to the post or upright and lost motion 'is eliminated, substantially as described.

2. In a hedstead, the combination with the end pieces each comprising apair of uprights or posts suitably connected together,of a pair of side rails,a clamp at each end of each of said side rails adapted to engage the respective uprights or posts, and each comprising two jaws or members hingedly connected together at the outer edge, the inner end of one of said members bein-g rigidly secured to the side rail and a clamping device for forcing inward the inner end of the other jaw or member, substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses. I

WILLARD A. MORRISON. FRED L. BRYANT. Witnesses:

LEWIS J. TORRY, W. A. ROBINSON.

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